The SSE Hydro will be opened by music legend Rod Stewart tonight – with SSE staff also there to help concert-goers find the way in the brand new venue.
The arena is the first purpose built concert venue of its scale and will play host to around 140 events each year, including national and international artists as well as comedy stars and sporting events.
SSE customers can find out more about how they can “get in” to exclusive hospitality areas and get their hands on VIP upgrades and tickets for events at The SSE Hydro 48 hours before anyone else by registering for SSE Reward at www.ssereward.com.
Designed by world-renowned architects Foster & Partners, The SSE Hydro has a seated capacity of 12,000 rising to 13,000 with a seated and standing configuration.
This has transformed the 64-acre site at the SECC into a complete exhibition, conference and entertainments complex of significant national scale. Standing at 45m high and modelled on Greek and Roman amphitheatres, it has become the newest landmark on Glasgow's skyline.
Designed from the inside out, visitors will enjoy excellent sightlines from the fixed, tiered and demountable seating system and the acoustics will be of the highest standard.
By night, visitors to the venue will be greeted by its distinctive, translucent skin which can glow 12.8 million different colours or have images projected directly on to the surface. The venue will also play an integral role in The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as the home for both gymnastics and the netball finals.
Wendy Barbour, Director of Commonwealth Games and Sponsorship said: “The opening of The SSE Hydro is a historic moment for Glasgow and for Scotland and it also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for SSE as we enter our first year as title sponsor of this wonderful new venue.
“We are very much looking forward to offering our customers access to a range of exclusive benefits associated with the venue including a 48-hour pre-sale through our brand new customer reward scheme SSE Reward and we are proud to support live entertainment in Scotland through our investment in The SSE Hydro.”